X-ray induced coloration behavior of Lu2O3:Eu transparent ceramics and the impact of ZrO2 and HfO2 sintering additives

Abstract

Lu2O3:Eu, Lu2O3:Eu,Hf and Lu2O3:Eu,Zr transparent ceramics (TC) were fabricated using vacuum sintering followed by heat isostatic pressure (HIP). The structure of the samples was measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The X-ray induced coloration and bleaching behavior of Lu2O3:Eu TC is reported for the first time. The transmission and X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) spectra before and after irradiation and after bleaching were measured. By adopting the energy level diagram of Lu2O3:Eu calculated by first-principles calculation, coloration and bleaching mechanisms of Lu2O3:Eu TC were proposed. In addition, the impact of hafnia and zirconia on the optical, photoluminescence and scintillation properties of Lu2O3:Eu TC was discussed and analyzed through the morphology, photoluminescence and scintillation properties, including transmission curves, scanning electron microscope (SEM), photoluminescence excitation (PLE), photoluminescence (PL), PL decay curves, XEL curves and afterglow curves.